Are you a cat person or a dog person? Although I have had both for most of my life, we are now firmly in the dog person camp. Our family has two Portuguese members, who go by the names Lily and Lou Lou and we couldn’t imagine our lives without them.
As a dog owner it’s your duty to ensure your dogs are healthy and well cared for, not only for the dogs sake, but for your family too. We routinely treat our dogs for worms and fleas, but what about ticks. Did you know they can pass diseases to your dog which could be fatal? Canine babesiosis has previously been seen in dogs in the UK that have travelled abroad, but more recently has been found in dogs who have not left the UK, which is obviously more worrying.
Ticks can also infect your dogs with Lyme disease, which can lead to serious complications to both dogs and humans if untreated. With cases in dogs increasing by a staggering 560% from 2009 to 2015*, it is a real concern.
Dogs can pick up ticks anywhere, it isn’t only in the long grass of the forests; it could just as easily be in your back garden. This means it’s very important to make sure your dogs are protected.
We have always used FRONTLINE® Spot On monthly (which deals with both ticks and fleas) on our dogs. FRONTLINE® Spot On kills ticks quickly (within 48 hours), minimising the risk of tick-borne disease transmission.
What is a tick?
Ticks are about the size of a sesame seed before they feed. They lie in wait on vegetation and latch onto pets or people as they pass by before attaching themselves using their scissor-like mouthparts. They then secure themselves in position using a cement-like substance. Feeding on blood, they can swell to the size of a coffee bean. Their attachment can result in irritation and infection and can also transmit infectious diseases to both humans and animals.
Top Tips To Tackle Ticks
- Get into a routine of checking your pets for ticks after walks or when they have been out in the garden.
- Ticks find it easier to attach where hair is sparse, so pay particular attention to your dog’s head, ears and tummy. Our youngest dog, Lily, always gets them between her eyes.
- Ticks should drop off naturally once they’re dead. If they are still attached you can safely remove them using a tick hook. If you’re concerned about removing them yourself, ask your vet for advice.
Bear in mind ticks are survivors! They can survive being frozen and they can even survive going through the washing machine at 40ᵒC, so treat them properly.
FRONTLINE® Spot On contains fipronil. Legal category: AVM-GSL. ®Registered Trademark. For further prescribing information, refer to the data sheet on www.noahcompendium.co.uk or contact Merial Animal Health Ltd, CM19 5TG, UK. Use medicines responsibly.
Disclosure: This is a collaborative post.